2019-A new year. I remember 1940 (vaguely). A world involved in the War to end all Wars. And then new beginning as that came to an end. I remember the 1950’s. My last year of junior high. A new beginning as I began my high school year. And a new beginning again as I married in 1955. I remember the 1960’s. Our infant son was not yet a year old and our young daughter was born 3 years later. I remember 1970. A new beginning at my first year of teaching. I remember the 80’s. I became Mother-in-law twice to wonderful new children. I remember 1990. A new beginning. Grandparents!! Retirement for both of us. And on it goes..so many new beginnings. I remember how concerned we were as the year 2000 approached. What would happen to our computer-oriented society? A new beginning. How often in our life do we face a new beginning?

How we face and deal with the NEW becomes the issue. Many of us have faced the death of loved ones. The more years we live, the more this becomes a reality. Not only are we left without spouses or friends, but sometimes death comes to our children or our grandchildren and we are left to begin anew.

Often our new beginning comes because of physical situations. I had a hip replaced. Then I had it done again. I once could walk a country block, but as the physical body wore down so did my walking. I once played golf three times a week, but again because of shoulder pain, I had to find a new beginning.

Many times our new beginnings are of our own choosing. We find a new job. We move to a new community. We retire. We choose a new way of life. We make new friends. All our choices may not be good, but we adjust to new people, new environments and new ideas. The key word is ADJUST.

Positive adjustment to change is not always easy. Especially if a person is fifty-five plus. I like life to stay the same, but reality tells me this is impossible. So, I need to make new beginnings and do the best I can with what the situations in life bring.

Scripture tells us that “Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today and forever.” But everything else is fluid and changing. Isaiah 43:18 tells us to “…forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” We can’t live in the past, but only in the day we have. Our new beginning is new each day. Paul wrote to the Philippians and encouraged them to “Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4) We can’t always change the new circumstance in our life, but we can adjust to it in a positive way.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’”(Lamentations 3:22)

ENJOY 2019 -ENJOY YOUR DAY-A NEW BEGINNING